Modular share pack battery

• US 9,680,318 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Galvion Ltd. (Galvion Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Revision Military Incorporated (Revision Military)
• Inventors: Donais, Len, Carkner, Steve, Lanoue, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): DO, THUAN V
• Application Number:
  US13/967,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20140049208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 320103
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/256 Carrying devices, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/267 having means for adapting to batteries or cells of different types or different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Described is an energy share pack comprising a housing, at least one energy storage component within the housing, at least one energy conversion component within the housing, and a connection point for connecting to more than one of energy users, energy sources and other energy share packs simultaneously for sharing energy. The energy share pack may have an energy generation component for generating harvestable energy, and two or more ports of any combination of the following types: bidirectional power port, bidirectional USB port, unidirectional output power port, and unidirectional input power port. The share pack ports may operate simultaneously at different voltage levels, and at least one port may be bi-directional. Furthermore, the share packs may have an integrated display for providing information on the energy share pack in which the display is integrated and information about other energy share packs connected thereto.

Claims

1. An energy system comprising:

first and second interconnectable energy devices that share energy and can be connected to form a chain, each of the first and second interconnectable energy devices comprising;

a. a body having at least one connector configured to engage a separate energy device;

b. at least one energy storage component within the body, wherein the at least one energy storage component is in communication with the at least one connector;

c. an energy conversion component within the body;

d. a plurality of independent connection points configured to connect to a plurality of energy users and energy sources, wherein the plurality of independent connection points are electrically active hinge points that hingedly and electrically connect the energy device to one or more energy devices, wherein each of the plurality of independent connection points have an independent voltage; and

e. an integrated display that displays information regarding the energy device and other energy devices connected thereto.

2. The energy system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second interconnected energy devices further comprises two or more ports for transferring energy, the ports comprising at least one of a bidirectional power port, a bidirectional USB port, a unidirectional output power port, and a unidirectional input power port.

3. The energy system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the ports is adapted to communicate data.

4. The energy system of claim 2, wherein the ports operate simultaneously at different voltage levels.

5. The energy system of claim 1, wherein the first and second energy devices are wearable.

6. An energy system comprising:

first and second interconnectable energy devices that share energy and can be connected to form a chain, each of the first and second interconnectable energy devices comprising;

a. at least one energy storage component for storing energy;

b. at least one energy generation component for generating harvestable energy;

c. two or more ports, each port selected from the group consisting of a bidirectional power port, a bidirectional USB port, a unidirectional output power port, and a unidirectional input power port;

d. a plurality of electrically active hinge points that hingedly and electrically connect the energy device to one or more energy devices; and

e. an integrated display that displays information regarding the energy device and other energy devices connected thereto.

7. The energy system of claim 6, wherein for each of the first and second interconnectable energy devices, energy from the at least one energy generation component shares energy with connected devices.

8. The energy system of claim 6, wherein for each of the first and second interconnectable energy devices, energy stored in the at least one energy storage component is shared with connected devices.

9. The energy system of claim 6, wherein for each of the first and second interconnectable energy devices, the two or more ports operate simultaneously at different voltage levels.

10. The energy system of claim 9, wherein for each of the first and second interconnectable energy devices, at least one port is bi-directional.

11. An energy system comprising at least two interconnected battery packs that share energy and are connected to one another with an electrically active hinge point, each battery pack comprising at least one power port for connection to external equipment, the at least one power port selected from the group consisting of a bidirectional power port, a bidirectional USB port, a unidirectional output port, and a unidirectional input port, wherein one or more of the two or more battery packs further comprise an integrated display for providing information regarding the battery packs and other battery packs connected thereto, and wherein the information provided is selected from the group consisting of total energy stored in the system, total energy used by the system, total energy generated by the system, total health of the system, total available operational time of the system, total time to recharge the system, number of active connections in the system.

12. The energy system of claim 11, wherein the system is adapted to be carried in ammunition carriers.

13. The energy system of claim 11, wherein the system is curved and adapted to be fit into armor plate pockets.

14. The energy system of claim 11, wherein the hinge point comprises at least one of of pin-and-socket, ball joints, flat cables, dove-tail joins, and magnets.

15. The energy system of claim 11, wherein the at least two battery packs can be connected together at any state of charge.

16. The energy system of claim 11, wherein an operating voltage level of each power port is independent from an operating voltage level of another power port.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein data is transferred between the at least two battery packs.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein energy is stored, routed, input, output and harvested between the two or more battery packs.